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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "into your nominated bank account" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
  • ",000,000" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
  • "utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "transaction is risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From:
Date:
Subject: Good News For You


{MONEY TRANSACTION}
{THIRTY SIX MILLION USD}
(RE: TRANSFER OF $ 36,000,000.USD)
{BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY/YOUR ASSISTANCE IS NEEDED}

Dear Friend,

My Name is ATTA MILLS And I work in the International operation depart=
ment in a Local Bank here in Accra Ghana On a routine inspection, I dis=
covered a dormant domiciliary account with a BAL Of 36,000,000 (Thirty =
Six Million USD) on further discreet investigation I also discovered th=
at the account holder has long since passed away (Dead) leaving no bene=
ficiary to the account

The bank will approve this money to any foreigner who apply for the fun=
ds because the former operator of the a/c is a foreigner and from Iraq =
in particular and I am certainly sure that he is dead and nobody will c=
ome again for the claim of this money A foreigner can only claim this m=
oney with legal claims to the account Holder therefore I need your coop=
eration in this transaction. I will provide the necessary information n=
eeded in order to claim this money, you will have no problem because I =
am here to direct you.

But you will need to open an account where this can be transferred. If =
you are interested send me your private Telephone No and Fax number inc=
luding the full details of the account to be used for the Deposit. I wi=
sh for utmost confidentiality in handling this Transaction as my job an=
d the future of my family would be jeopardized if it were breached, nee=
ded information from you for the transfer are as follow.

Bank Name And Address--------?
A/C Name..........................?
A/C Number Even an empty
Swift Code No..................... Or Routing No=E2=80=A6..

And I am assuring you that the transaction is risk free hence we are go=
ing to follow the normal transfer process. Finally a 25% of the total f=
und will be given to you for your steadfast corporation. Upon the recei=
pt of the above details, payment will be activated by the feeding of yo=
ur data into payment system, followed by a signal that will be sent to =
the paying bank to remit funds into your nominated bank account within =
5 official working days of receipt of the above information. Contact me=
urgently via email privately for further details: {dr.atta_mills@hotma=
il.com}
Thanks.

Yours Faithfully,
=20
Dr. Atta Mills

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam